ISBN: 1479352985 ISBN-13: 978-1479352982 Dedication This novel is dedicated to my wonderful husband, who was patient and understanding throughout the many revisions of this novel, and to my parents, who fostered and supported my love of reading and writing. Prologue The small courtroom was mostly empty. Anne and Franklin Stafford each sat next to their respective lawyers. Today the divorce was to be finalized. Anne was angry and hurt. She watched Franklin in her peripheral vision, still unable to believe that after twenty-two years of marriage he wanted a divorce. The last several years had been difficult, but she never would have believed that he’d actually leave her. Trisha was still to home, Jason was just in college and the two older children didn’t seem to know what to think about the divorce. Anne still expected Franklin to take it back; to change his mind about discarding her and their marriage. She could still see Trisha’s tear-stained face as Anne left the house that morning. Trisha had asked to come to the proceedings, but Anne refused to allow her to watch this, one of the worst moments in Anne’s life. She was a complete and total failure. So was Franklin. In truth, it was all his fault. If he hadn’t pushed her and caused the accident, things would never have gotten so horrible for them. Anne looked at Franklin with all the hatred she felt. He’d found someone else to satisfy his lust and now he wanted to be rid of her. She’d show him. She wanted the house, the car, the farming implements.
